Indianapolis: River Walk copycats!

Former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut liked the San Antonio River Walk so much that he helped his city establish its own version. “It happened because we were inspired by your example,” he said.

Now, Hudnut is trying to inspire those in the real estate business to be a little more urban and think about the future. Hudnut, who was the mayor for 16 years and is currently the Urban Land Institute’s chairman of public policy, spoke to the ULI’sSan Antonio District Thursday morning about some of what he thinks are pivotal aspects of development.

First, the Hudnut says he wants people to think about infrastructure. “The backbone of the global economy is sound infrastructure,” Hudnut said. Unfortunately, he said the country will face a $1.6 trillion deficit for infrastructure improvements. To put it bluntly, “It’s a crisis in the making,” said Richard Rosan, president of ULI Worldwide.

Second, Hudnut advocates more workforce housing. People have to drive farther and farther outside the city to find affordable housing, he said. The key is to revitalize, redevelop and participate in urban infill.

And third, there needs to be an emphasis on sustainability. This includes green and environmental building, but also involves making denser urban environments. “How are we going to bring people to live in more compact communities?” Rosan asked.